Multiple-spindle lathe

Abstract

In order, in a multi-spindle lathe, comprising a lathe frame, a spindle drum, which is mounted on the lathe frame such that it can rotate about a spindle drum axis and has an end face facing a working space, a multiplicity of workpiece spindles, which are mounted in the spindle drum in such a manner that they can rotate about spindle axes and have workpiece-accommodating means, which are disposed so as to face the working space and into which workpieces which are to be machined in the working space can be inserted, also to ensure that the points in time and time durations for handling workpieces involve the minimum possible loss of machining time, it is proposed that there is a pivot-arm handling device, the foot of which is disposed on an opposite side of the working space from the end face of the spindle drum and which is formed in such a way that it can be used to insert workpieces into the workpiece-accommodating means of the workpiece spindles or to remove them therefrom, through the working space.

1. Multi-spindle lathe, comprising a lathe frame, a spindle drum, which is mounted on the lathe frame such that it can rotate about a spindle drum axis and has an end face facing a working space, a multiplicity of workpiece spindles, which are mounted in the spindle drum in such a manner that they can rotate about spindle axes and have workpiece-accommodating means, which are disposed so as to face the working space and into which workpieces which are to be machined in the working space can be inserted, a pivot-arm handling device, the foot of which is disposed on an opposite side of the working space from the end face of the spindle drum and which is adapted in such a way that it can be used to insert workpieces into the workpiece-accommodating means of the workpiece spindles or to remove them therefrom, through the working space. 
   
   
     2. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivot-arm handling device comprises a pivot-arm base, which can rotate with respect to the foot about a foot pivot axis running transversely with respect to the spindle drum axis. 
   
   
     3. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 2 , wherein an articulated arm with a first pivot joint, which has a first pivot axis running transversely with respect to the foot pivot axis, is mounted on the pivot-arm base, and in that the articulated arm includes a first arm, which leads from the first pivot axis, a second arm, which can be pivoted with respect to the first arm, by means of an articulated joint, about an axis of articulation which is parallel to the first pivot axis, and a gripper arm, which can pivot with respect to the second arm about a second pivot axis by means of a second pivot joint. 
   
   
     4. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 3 , wherein the second arm has an axis of rotation which runs transversely with respect to the axis of articulation and with respect to the second pivot axis and about which the second pivot joint can rotate with respect to the articulated joint. 
   
   
     5. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 3 , wherein the gripper arm has an axis of rotation which runs transversely with respect to the second pivot axis and about which a workpiece gripper can rotate with respect to the second pivot joint. 
   
   
     6. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot pivot axis runs transversely with respect to a plane defined by a base surface of the lathe frame. 
   
   
     7. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot pivot axis runs approximately perpendicular to the plane. 
   
   
     8. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot pivot axis runs approximately in the vertical direction. 
   
   
     9. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot pivot axis is disposed opposite a central region of the end face of the spindle drum. 
   
   
     10. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot pivot axis runs close to the spindle drum axis. 
   
   
     11. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot pivot axis intersects the spindle drum axis. 
   
   
     12. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot is disposed hanging from a superstructure, which extends over and beyond the working space, of the lathe frame. 
   
   
     13. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein a workpiece transfer space is disposed at a lower level than the pivot-arm base. 
   
   
     14. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece transfer space is disposed approximately at the level of a substructure of the lathe frame. 
   
   
     15. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein a workpiece transfer space is disposed in a region which extends in front of the end face of the spindle drum. 
   
   
     16. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 15 , wherein the workpiece transfer space is disposed between the end face and the foot. 
   
   
     17. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece transfer space is disposed on an opposite side of the foot pivot axis from the working space. 
   
   
     18. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivot-arm handling unit is adapted in such a manner that it allows access to workpieces disposed in all the workpiece spindles. 
   
   
     19. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein a control unit for the pivot-arm handling device is provided, which when conveying workpieces between the workpiece transfer space and the workpiece spindles, moves the articulated arm substantially in a plane running perpendicular to the axis of articulation and executes a rotation of the pivot-arm base about the foot pivot axis through less than 90°. 
   
   
     20. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein a control unit is provided, for the pivot-arm handling unit, which control unit, in order to insert and/or remove workpieces into/from the workpiece spindles, moves the pivot-arm base substantially only within an angular range about the foot pivot axis which corresponds to twice the angular range which is required in order to gain access to all the workpiece spindles in all the spindle stations. 
   
   
     21. Multi-spindle lathe according to  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece-accommodating means for the workpieces and tool carriers for tools are disposed on the same side of the working space.